Novak Djokovic’s 18 Monte Carlo main draw appearances is an Open era record for the event [Getty Images]
Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a 100th ATP singles title continues after he suffered a disappointing first-round defeat to Alejandro Tabilo at the Monte Carlo Masters.
Djokovic, a two-time champion at this event, racked up 29 unforced errors against only 18 winners, resulting in a 6-3, 6-4 loss, marking a lackluster start to his 2023 clay-court season.
Despite being a record 24-time Grand Slam winner and having recently triumphed in his last ten clay matches—including a gold medal run at the Olympics—Djokovic could not find his form against the Chilean.
Reflecting on the match, Djokovic stated, “I expected to at least perform decently. What happened was horrible… I didn’t have high expectations, knowing I’d face a tough opponent, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad. It’s a horrible feeling.”
Later on, rising star Carlos Alcaraz staged a comeback victory against Francisco Cerundolo in his first match of the clay season, and he now moves to face German qualifier Daniel Altmaier in the next round.
Djokovic, aiming to join Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer as the only men to win 100 Tour-level titles, remains at 99 after his latest early exit. He initially broke Tabilo’s serve but faltered, allowing Tabilo to claim victory with a stellar performance.
As Tabilo prepares to face Grigor Dimitrov in the third round, he expressed his relief and pride in overcoming Djokovic: “It’s been a tough year, but remembering my previous performance helped today.”
